ABOUT
We are archivists and librarians working together to plan a state-of-the art archives collection management system that builds on the strength of the Archivists' Toolkit and Archon open source products, and that incorporates the best of the innovative technical and archive functions. We are funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to develop an architectural framework, a maintenance and transition plan for the existing two tools, as well as a community governance and sustainable business model for the new unified tool.
Project Timeline
September 2009 – December 2009
Maintenance of the Archivists’ Toolkit and Archon. Development for Archivists' Toolkit ended in September of 2009 and development for Archon ended in May, 2010. Both products will continue to make maintenance releases to their systems. Last releases; AT version 2.0 maintenance update 9; Archon Version 3.2 maintenance update. The Archon roadmap for maintenance activities and transition to the new tool can be found here.
Identification of features currently in AT and Archon to be present in the new application, summarized in the report on High Level Functional Requirements.
January 2010 – August 2010
Architectural framework for the new software was created, with participation of archival working group, developers and technical architect consultant(s).
June 2010
Technical Design meeting was held in New York City, June 3-4, 2010. Participants included archivists and technologists from academia and the private sector, as well as managers of medium and large IT departments. A technical planning and design report was prepared by consultant Mark Matienzo
July 2010 – March 2011
The Archives Working Group formulated specifications for core functional areas (see links to the left). The management team explored potential business overlaps and alliances with in-progress open source software projects
December 2010 – January 2011
Consultant Lisa Spiro hired to assist with sustainability and business plans, conducts interviews and drafts summary report.
March 2011
Development proposal submitted to the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation
Projected Future Timelines
July 1, 2011
Development project begins (If funded.)
July 2011
A Development Manager and a Technical Architect will be appointed to oversee the development of the new software product.
In addition, a Technical Review Team will be established to ensure that the data model conforms to community standards and requirements and to advise on potential points of interoperation with relevant related technologies.
System documentation will be created throughout the development process; end-user documentation will be created when beta-testing commences.
January 2012
Core programming begins.
November 2012
Beta testing begins